Xbox One System Update

I wanted to let you know that later today a required Xbox One system update will become available. This update works a little bit differently than what fans are used to on Xbox 360. Here’s what you can expect:

A. If you are using the Xbox One “Instant On” (the low power state that allows you to instantly power up your console by saying “Xbox On”), your console automatically checks for updates when you turn it off. Once we make the update available (on Tuesday, December 10th, 5:00 PM PT) this means the following will happen:

Your console will automatically download the update after you turn it off. Once the update has been downloaded in the background, your console will power completely down. Please note: You will need to manually power your console back on after the update has been downloaded. Because the update will power your console completely down, the “Xbox On” voice command won’t be available until after the update is fully installed.

When you turn the console on you’ll see the update being applied. After that, your Xbox One will reboot. You’ll know the update is installing when you see the Xbox logo on the green background (like at the top of this post.) This can take anywhere from 2-5 minutes. Once the update has finished installing, you’ll boot to the Home screen and you’re all set.

Don’t worry, if you are out of town for the holidays, you console also does regular checks for updates and will download it in the background even if you have not used you Xbox One in a couple of days.

Call me crazy, but shouldn’t we be TOLD that we are getting an update installed?

When this update started, I thought my X1 was frozen and I came close to performing a hard shutdown. Luckily, my phone rang and I was distracted. I came back to see the X1 at the home screen.

Instead of just the green Xbox One screen, a few characters of text stating that an update was downloading and is currently being installed would prevent users from performing hard shutdowns, taking their negative (and founded) comments to the forums, etc. It’s quite a simple formula and bit odd that this hasn’t already been implemented.

The only (well, only one for now) thing I can think of that would prevent Microsoft from applying text to the X1 green screen is people thinking “Oh man! More updates?!?” Similar to Microsoft Windows Operating Systems when they receive updates.

Regardless, it’s not an excuse for poor communication to the end-user. Period.

On a positive note, one of the first things I noticed was the improvement while navigating the home screen if something else is already running. I.E. Game, Netflix, etc.

The “stuttering” or low frame rate issue when trying to simply navigate (left, right, up, down) is gone and is now up to par. It’s unfortunate this basic issue wasn’t addressed as part of the initial release. Many family and friends with the X1 ended up returning or exchanging their units thinking there was something wrong.